Guinea-Bissau's debt
How much Guinea-Bissau owes, to whom, and how that compares with the rest of Africa. From IMF and World Bank figures.
Government debt, % of GDP (2025)
75.1 %
Owed abroad by the government, US$ billion (2024)
1.3
Largest creditor: Bondholders, % of foreign public debt
37.8 %
Source: World Bank, International Debt Statistics. Last checked 24 October 2026.
View the data as a table
| Period | Guinea-Bissau | Middle African country |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 61.7 | 32.1 |
| 2011 | 45.6 | 28.4 |
| 2012 | 47.4 | 26.4 |
| 2013 | 49.6 | 31.1 |
| 2014 | 60.1 | 36.4 |
| 2015 | 56.3 | 44.1 |
| 2016 | 59.1 | 45.9 |
| 2017 | 51.8 | 48.0 |
| 2018 | 59.1 | 49.2 |
| 2019 | 65.1 | 53.9 |
| 2020 | 77.6 | 56.7 |
| 2021 | 78.8 | 57.2 |
| 2022 | 80.7 | 59.5 |
| 2023 | 79.4 | 60.9 |
| 2024 | 82.4 | 56.8 |
| 2025 | 75.1 | 53.2 |
| 2026 | 73.9 (partial) | 52.5 (partial) |
| 2027 | 72.0 (partial) | 54.2 (partial) |
| 2028 | 70.1 (partial) | 53.0 (partial) |
| 2029 | 68.2 (partial) | 53.1 (partial) |
| 2030 | 66.6 (partial) | 51.7 (partial) |
| 2031 | 65.6 (partial) | 50.7 (partial) |
Source: International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook. Last checked 24 October 2026.
View the data as a table
| Part | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Development banks and funds | 52.8 % | 53% |
| Bondholders | 37.8 % | 38% |
| Other governments | 9.4 % | 9% |
Source: World Bank, International Debt Statistics. Last checked 24 October 2026.
View the data as a table
| Period | Bondholders | World Bank-IDA | West African Development Bank - BOAD | Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) | Angola |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Not published | 289 | 22 | Not published | 15 |
| 2011 | Not published | 57 | 30 | Not published | 15 |
| 2012 | Not published | 56 | 36 | Not published | 15 |
| 2013 | 3 | 55 | 55 | Not published | 15 |
| 2014 | 21 | 53 | 79 | 31 | 15 |
| 2015 | 28 | 53 | 108 | 155 | 15 |
| 2016 | 45 | 54 | 119 | 151 | 15 |
| 2017 | 69 | 67 | 187 | 203 | 15 |
| 2018 | 97 | 111 | 186 | 193 | 15 |
| 2019 | 126 | 126 | 197 | 188 | 15 |
| 2020 | 236 | 164 | 257 | 205 | 15 |
| 2021 | 305 | 182 | 225 | 188 | 49 |
| 2022 | 372 | 187 | 203 | 177 | 49 |
| 2023 | 495 | 214 | 201 | 182 | 49 |
| 2024 | 495 | 215 | 210 | 170 | 49 |
Source: World Bank, International Debt Statistics. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Where Guinea-Bissau ranks in Africa
- Government debt to GDP: 15th highest of 53.
- Total external debt in dollars: 43rd largest of 49.
- Compare Guinea-Bissau's debt with its neighbours on the data wall
More on Guinea-Bissau
Method and sources
Debt to GDP is the IMF's general government gross debt, which covers domestic and foreign debt of every level of government. Debt owed abroad by the government and debt it guarantees. Excludes IMF credit and private debt that is not guaranteed. WLD is the total. Creditor names are the World Bank's. Figures checked 24 October 2026.
IMF government debt data · World Bank International Debt Statistics
Frequently asked questions
How much does Guinea-Bissau owe?
Guinea-Bissau government and the debt it guarantees owed $1.3 billion to foreign lenders in 2024, according to the World Bank's International Debt Statistics. Counting domestic debt too, government debt was 75.1% of GDP in 2025, according to the IMF.
Who is Guinea-Bissau's largest creditor?
Bondholders, the investors who hold its foreign bonds, owed $495.2 million in 2024, 37.8% of the government's foreign debt. Next: World Bank-IDA (16.4%), West African Development Bank - BOAD (16%) and Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) (13%).
How much does Guinea-Bissau owe China?
The World Bank records no public debt owed by Guinea-Bissau to China in 2024.
What is Guinea-Bissau's debt to GDP ratio?
75.1% in 2025: general government gross debt as a share of GDP, from the IMF World Economic Outlook. That is the 15th highest of 53 African countries with a figure.